You are not a monster. You did not come out of nowhere, emerging from the shadows to shatter the life of an innocent girl. You are not unexpected or unique. You were simply following the example of those around you. You are a product of our society.

When you were three, you were forced to hug and kiss people even when you didn’t want to. You learned that it’s okay for people to make you uncomfortable if it makes them happy.

When you were four, your cousin would hold you down and tickle you no matter how much you kicked and screamed at them to stop. Your relatives did nothing.

Important Definitions

- Sexual assault: any unwanted/non-consensual sexual activity. More information here.
- Rape: Sexual assault involving penetration.
- Consent: affirmative, sober, voluntary, unambiguous, verbal permission to engage in a specific sexual activity at a certain time. It can be withdrawn at any time and cannot be assumed under any circumstances. More information here.
- Trigger: anything that reminds a person of a traumatic memory in someone who has experienced trauma, often related to the five senses. They can cause flashbacks, anxiety, feeling disconnected, anger, feeling defensive, tenseness, feeling negative thoughts, etc. More information here.
- Rape Culture: a culture in which rape is pervasive and normalized due to societal attitudes about gender and sexuality. Examples here.